Letters

I found it interesting that the owner of The Terraces blames development uphill from his property for the slides in George Rogers Park. He makes a point that I believe the city needs to take into consideration.

Currently city policies allow development providing it meets all the zoning and development guidelines. I know the city encourages development because of pressure from Metro and in order to increase its tax base.

The problem is that each development is looked at individually rather than in relation to the surrounding properties. No one seems to care about the consequences of allowing every property to be developed to the maximum allowable standards. There is nothing to discourage teardowns or to stop the paving over of previous permeable surfaces. This destroys not only the character and charm of the area but the environment as well.

I believe the consultants developers hire for reports on things such as soils and trees make their reports favorable to the developers and their developments since the developers are the ones that pay them.

I wonder if the city ever questions those reports or has their own professionals look at them. The fines for violating the tree ordinances are not steep enough to discourage violation. We are all taxpayers and the city works for us.

I believe the city should have a more balanced and forward-looking way of managing development. Current development standards may need to be reviewed citywide in order to do this. I feel that current city polices are pro-development and leave surrounding property owners vulnerable to damage on their property and with little recourse in the matter.

Barbara Perris

Lake Oswego

Thanks for support and involvement

To the Editor:

Throughout my campaign, I have been delighted and overwhelmed by the new passion and energy of voters. Oregonians from ages 17 to 104 are thoughtfully considering issues and candidates. In truly remarkable numbers, voters are actively working and engaged in volunteering their time to facilitate good government.

To all who assisted me, a special thank you. It has been an honor to participate in the process, and I look forward to working with and serving our community in the future.

Linda Brown

Lake Oswego

Bad behavior mars Lakeridge win

To the Editor:

Southridge brought its talented lacrosse team into our house (last Thursday) and played a great game. By just a single goal, they were beaten by a brilliant Lakeridge squad with grit and late momentum.

First of all, congratulations to the athletes on both sides of the contest. You all trained well, fought well and represented your schools and your communities with honor. After a truly great battle, the Pacers earned the right to bask in the achievement, and Southridge deserved to be sent off with cheers as a worthy and dignified opponent. Unfortunately the game's end in the stands was not honorable at all.

A part of the Lakeridge student body (and their parents) deserve to be chastised for deplorable behavior late in the game. Moments from sealing a victory, 30 or so of these kids intentionally moved from the west end of the stadium to the far east end, inserting themselves directly in front of the visiting crowd. They rudely blocked the view when the game was at a climactic end, taunted the opposing athletes and shamed our entire community. It was so offensive, that tempers flared and a handful of sensible Lakeridge adults stepped in to do damage control. I am personally disgusted and ashamed, and will not stand for this kind of behavior by my children or by my neighbors' children.

The Lakeridge leadership and every Lakeridge parent needs to look in the mirror and ask whether this is the vile and disrespectful identity we want for our young people or for our community. It's not what I want, and if you feel the same you must use this learning moment to talk to your kids about what honor, respect and dignity are ... and how (this) foolish display was the exact opposite.

The Lakeridge leadership also owes a sincere personal and public apology to the entire Southridge community. Failing to do so will be a second shame on all of us.

Mike Hall

Lake Oswego

Editor's note: Lakeridge Principal Mike Lehman responds: 'A number of Lakeridge student fans rushed to the east end of the stadium, closer to the action around the Southridge goal, to watch the final tense seconds of a close and competitive game. This was a mistake, since the Southridge fans were sitting and/or standing at the east end of the stadium. Lakeridge administrators supervising the game directed them back to the Pacer side of the stadium, but not before there were several unfortunate interactions between and among students and parents from both schools. Following the game, Lakeridge administrators personally went into the stands and apologized to Southridge students and parents. The next morning, one of the Southridge parents called Lakeridge administrators to personally apologize for any inappropriate reactions by Southridge parents to what was a failure on the part of some students to act appropriately in an emotional and highly-charged situation. This was an unfortunate incident and certainly not consistent with our commitment to extend courtesy and respect to our rivals and their fans on and off the field. The students involved have all learned from this experience and we sincerely apologize to the Southridge community.'

Griffith is the right fit for District 38

To the Editor:

Oregon House District 38 (Lake Oswego/Dunthorpe) deserves a representative who truly reflects its values - a person of mature judgment, proven experience and deep civic involvement.

In the 2008 election, that person is Steve Griffith. District 38 is closely divided between Republicans and Democrats, with a lot of Independents. A partisan representative is wrong for this district. A centrist consensus builder is right, and Steve Griffith is that person.

When you find a Republican like Steve Griffith, who has served in the Peace Corps and on the board of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, and who has chaired the board of the largest school district in the state, you've found someone who fits District 38 like a glove. People of all political and social stripes can unite behind Steve Griffith.

House District 38 produces representatives who lead in the Oregon Legislature. To fill this open seat, we deserve a candidate with the talents and wise judgment of Steve Griffith.

I am convinced he's the person for the job.

Clara Jensen

Portland

Review headline upsets reader

To the Editor:

'Erickson takes the Fifth' - a headline on the front page of your May 22 issue:

The innuendo contained in those words diminishes the respectability of your publication and is not representative of balanced and fair journalism.

Was the headline writer just trying to be clever? Unfortunate if so.

Or is this a poorly concealed editorial bias? If so, shame on you.

You owe Mike Erickson an apology and an explanation to your readers - one that is given equal prominence in a near-future issue, and not buried on an inside page.

Clark Schenkenberger

Lake Oswego

Sheriff says thanks for support

To the Editor:

With the May 20 election now behind us, I want to say how humbled and honored I am to have been re-elected as your sheriff - especially given the margin of victory. I see it as a strong affirmation of the changes we've made over the past four years and a mandate to pursue the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.

Great organizations constantly challenge themselves and seek out ways to improve, and this has always been my goal for the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

We will continue to achieve by building partnerships with the community, being vigilant with your tax dollars, holding offenders accountable and working proactively to prevent crime.

There are far too many people who supported and encouraged me through this campaign to thank here, but I do want to acknowledge the special contribution of my parents, Jim and Madeline Roberts, as well as my grandparents, now deceased. They taught me the values that have guided me in my life and through my career: To be honest, to treat everyone with respect, to be fair and to help those who are less fortunate.

Thank you for your vote and please know that the confidence and trust you have placed in me is never taken lightly. I will continue to work hard, and to foster a transparent, accountable organization that is always on the upward path - always pushing ahead.

All of us working together to make a difference is how we accomplish that goal.

Craig Roberts

Clackamas County Sheriff

Proposed condos are bad proposal

To the Editor:

A proposed 10-unit condominium at 397 Furnace St. in Old Town Lake Oswego, modeled to be draped down the steep slope of a single-family lot, is another example of the arbitrary and capricious actions made by the Lake Oswego city agencies dealing with planning and development.

Our daughter has a home on Furnace Street, north of the area in question, and we have become acquainted with the neighborhood and the neighbors over the last 10 years.

We watched with utter amazement when the city allowed a developer to build four three-story homes of more than 3,000 square feet each at the corner of Furnace and Leonard streets. The owners (and children) in these homes have to park their cars on the street as the garages are not adequate to hold three and four cars per household.The visual blight and the traffic impediments of these and service vehicles are constant.

The city's plan for easements over private property along the river to connect George Rogers Park with Roehr Park etc. can be accomplished without selling the affected properties to developers . The private homes on the river side of Furnace Street should not be handed over to multi-unit developers, who then profit from sale and resale.

The community of Old Town worked hard to establish the green space on equally steep slopes of Furnace Street-river side. It is not a question of the loss of neighbors' existing view of the Willamette. It is RIver +View + Multiple units+ $$$$ for developers and the city at the expense of the existing neighborhood. The city appears rigidly interested in the aesthetic of one area and then turns around and allows another area to be blighted.If it can happen in an historical zone it can happen in our neighborhoods .

Bill Headlee, who developed an entire block in Old Town with homes of an architectural style which blended in with the existing homes, would be spinning in his resting place to see what the city has in mind. Please support the residents of a neighborhood which dates to the mid 1800s against the dubious attentions of our city.

Stephanie Detjens

Lake Oswego

It makes sense to change the CUP

To the Editor:

By the time you're old enough to purchase property you ought to know at least two facts: One is, things change. The second is if you purchase a house near a high school athletic field, chances are people will want to use the field.

Regardless of what's decided about the conditional use permit status at Lakeridge High School, there will be perceived winners and losers. The adjacent property owners will feel like winners if no night games are allowed, the students and their families will feel like losers. If night games are allowed, the students and families will feel like winners. But keep in mind, what we're talking about here, is better utilizing a public facility that's existed for 37 years. It's not about winners and losers.

Change is a function of life. It happens because needs change. Considering the facts regarding population growth, the increase in the number of student athletes and the increase in density since Lakeridge opened, it makes sense to approve the CUP for this pre-existing field. The neighbors' arguments expressed at the May 5 Design Review Committee meeting regarding: Flying lacrosse balls in their yard; field lights interfering with star gazing from their hot tub; and not being able to have a candlelight dinner in their living room are nonsense. Neighbors are concerned about potential inconvenience occasionally, traffic and safety.

The city already has recommended plans addressing their traffic, safety, noise and lighting concerns.